Top 10 stories of China sports in 2009

We take a look back at the big ten of China sports in 2009 as well as the year’s leading sports movers and shakers.

(1)Swimming: Historymaker

Zhang Lin became China’s first male swimming world champ in Rome this summer

Freestyle swimmer Zhang Lin made an historic breakthrough for China when he won the 800m freestyle at the World Championships in Rome in July, demolishing Australian great Grant Hackett’s world record in the process.

His victory made him the first Chinese male swimmer to win a World Championships title.

“My biggest goal is the 2012 London Games. I hope I won’t miss the gold by another 0.58 seconds,” said Zhang, who settled for silver in Beijing last August, beaten by Park Tae-hwan of South Korea by that slim margin.

“I hope through my years of effort I can make up for my regrets at the Beijing Games.”

Zhang was not the only Chinese swimmer to stir up the pool this year. Women’s butterfly swimmer Liu Zige, the Beijing Olympic champion, set a world record of 2:01.81 at China’s National Games in October and broke the short-course record with 2:00.78 in Berlin, Germany, a month later.

(2)Athletics: What a comeback

Liu Xiang reclaimed the spotlight with a strong comeback

After being absent from competition for 13 months, China’s star hurdler, Liu Xiang, reclaimed the spotlight with a strong comeback.

The country’s biggest track-and-field star racked up three victories and a runners-up finish in the four events he participated in over the past three months.

A surprising time of 13.15 started Liu’s comeback run at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in September, where he was narrowly beaten by US veteran Terrence Trammell.

A month later, he clocked 13.34 to win his third China Games title and continued his good form at the Asian Championships last month with a victory in 13.50. The former Olympic and world champion capped his return with an easy victory at the East Asian Games in Hong Kong in December.

“After undergoing surgery in December last year, I didn’t think this year could be so smooth I didn’t know what kind of results I could gain,” Liu said.

What’s was just as pleasing to China’s track-and-field fans this year was that even without Liu, the country performed well at the Berlin World Championships in August. Spearheaded by a gold medal from women’s marathoner Bai Xue, the Chinese team exceeded expectations, earning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

(3)Diving: Falling angel

China’s diving diva, Guo Jingjing, consolidated her status as the most successful woman in the sport’s history by claiming two titles at the World Swimming Championships in Rome.

She won the double on the 3m springboard in the individual and synchronized events. It was the fifth straight time she had accomplished the feat at the Worlds and took her world title tally to 10.

Her Rome deeds added another chapter to a glorious career. At the Beijing Games, Guo claimed her third and fourth gold medals, making her the most decorated diver, along with Fu Mingxia, in Olympic history.

Guo has surpassed Fu in terms of records at major international tournaments. She is likely to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where one more gold would be enough to make her the undisputed No 1 diver of all time.

(4)Basketball: Shanghai surprise

China’s NBA All-star Yao Ming has a new title in his hometown of Shanghai – Boss Yao.

After buying the Shanghai Sharks for 20 million yuan ($2.93 million) in July, Yao became the new head of the basketball team and has vowed to help it back to the top. “In the coming years our team will work hard to win more games. Looking into the eyes of our young players, I feel Shanghai will soon rise to the top again, ” Yao said..

Before heading off to the NBA in 2002, Yao led the club to its only CBA championship that season. Since then, the Sharks have struggled and even lost their main sponsor at the beginning of this year due to poor results which saw the side finish second last in the league.

Yao is not the only prominent person interested in the rapidly-developing CBA. China-born businessman Huang Jianhua took over the Jilin team in October.

(5)Doping: Cheating or cheated

Sprinter Wang Jing tested positive for epitestosterone and testosterone after winning the women’s 100m final at the National Games in October in Shandong province, becoming the highest-profile Chinese athlete to fail a test this year.

Wang and her coach, Chen Hua, could face lifetime bans although they claim they don’t know how the drugs got into her system.

Wang, 21, is among China’s brightest sprint prospects. She finished fourth at the 2006 Junior World Championships in the 200m and was a key component of the 4x100m relay team which claimed gold at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

Wang’s doping case was one of three at the Games in Shandong. Guo Linna, a rower from Henan province, and Li Jie, a shooter from Inner Mongolia, were also found to have taken banned substances.

They were both kicked out of the meet.

(6)Volleyball: ‘Hammer’ strikes again

The “Iron Hammer” Lang Ping continued her legendary career by signing on to coach Guangdong Evergrande Women’s Volleyball Club, the sport’s first privately-funded club in China.

Within two months, Lang put together a star-studded cast for the newly-established team, including Feng Kun, an ex-captain of the national team and setter, current US national team libero Nicole Davis and Christa Harmotto.

Not surprisingly, the team has claimed seven straight victories in the women’s second division.

“Lang has always been my idol as a player and a coach,” said Feng.

“I wanted to learn more from her and accumulate more experience, so I joined her club. I believe what I can learn here will benefit my future career and life.”

(7)Figure skating: Gold the goal

Winning the Grand Prix finals title for the sixth time in Tokyo early this month topped a fine comeback for China’s veteran figure skating pair of Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo. Now, the Olympic gold medal is the only thing on their minds.

After more than two years in retirement, the three-time world champion pair burst back on to the skating scene this year in a bid to claim Olympic gold at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in February.

The pair has won all three competitions it has participated in this season and upped its personal best scores each time. At the GP Finals in Tokyo, Shen and Zhao won gold with a record 214.25 points.

“The Olympic gold medal has always been our dream and we will strive for it step by step,” said 36-year-old Zhao.

Led by Shen/Zhao, the other two top Chinese pairs, Pang Qing/Tong Jian, the 2006 world champions and runners-up at the Grand Prix final this season, and Zhang Dan/Zhang Hao, will also strive for glory in Vancouver.

(8)Match fixing: Finally …

Match fixing has been an open secret in China’s professionsal soccer leagues but it was not until March this year that the nation’s cabinet started to take is seriously.

For the first time, a high-profile committee was set up by 12 ministry-level organs to clean Chinese soccer of its evils. So far, at least seven executives, including two from China’s only English-backed soccer club Chengdu Blades, have been arrested and detained for match-fixing and gambling, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Meanwhile, dozens of former players and officials have been questioned with some of them being accused of gambling through foreign websites.

Nan Yong, deputy chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), said the association would cooperate with the security bureau.

(9)Cue sports: World in pocket

It was a superb year for China’s cue sports.

Star snooker player Ding Junhui announced his comeback by winning his second UK Championship title on Dec 13. It was also the 22-year-old’s first major tournament victory since claiming the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy.

On the women’s side, 16-year-old Liu Shasha became the youngest player to win the World Women’s 9-ball Championships in Shangyang, Liaoning province, in November, the second Chinese winner of the event after Pan Xiaoting in 2007.

Also, Liang Wenbo reached the quarterfinals at the UK Championship. He was also only the second Chinese player and fourth Asian man to reach a ranking final at September’s Shanghai Masters.

(10)National fitness: Sports for all

After topping the gold medal tally at last year’s Beijing Olympic Games for the first time, China has expanded its focus from competitive sports to mass sports, calling on and helping more and more people to take part in and benefit from daily exercise.

August 8, the opening date of the 2008 Beijing Games, has been named National Fitness Day and various activities were held all over the country to mark the anniversary, including fitness lectures, table tennis competitions and a chance to seek help from sports scientists.

“The Olympics were not only the show of elite athletes but also the embodiment of sport’s general values, which inspired more and more Chinese people to join sports enthusiastically,” said Liu Peng, China’s sports minister.

National Fitness Regulations came into effect on Oct 1. The regulations emphasize the rights of students to practise sports and encourage the opening of sports facilities to the public after school and on holidays.

While the athletes fought for medals at the 11th National Games in October, the organizers chose “Harmonious China, People’s Games” as the motto to promote physical fitness nationwide rather than the Games being a mere a demonstration of the country’s sports strength.

2009年中国体育十大新闻：
一、8月8日，我国首个全民健身日启动；8月30日，国务院颁布《全民健身条例》；10月1日，《全民健身条例》施行。
二、7月30日，张琳在罗马游泳世锦赛男子800米自由泳决赛中以7分32秒12夺冠并打破世界纪录，实现中国男子游泳历史性突破。
三、10月16日至28日，第十一届全运会在山东举行。刘子歌创造女子200米蝶泳世界纪录。
四、中国足球打假行动引起社会高度关注，打击赌球、假球的风暴波及国内部分省市。
五、8月12日，郎平签约恒大女排，执教国内第一家真正由企业出资、实行企业化管理的排球俱乐部。
六、中国田径频传利好，9月20日，刘翔以13秒15完美复出，随后蝉联全运会三连冠。 8月23日，白雪在柏林田径世锦赛以2小时25分15秒夺得中国马拉松世锦赛历史首金。
七、2月18日至28日，第二十四届世界大学生冬季运动会在中国哈尔滨举行。中国代表团以18金、18银、12铜的佳绩笑傲群雄。
八、3月29日，中国队在2009年女子冰壶世锦赛上首夺世界冠军。
九、7月15日，姚之队正式签约收购上海东方男篮，姚明成为昔日母队的老板。
十、11月13日至23日，首届全国智力运动会在四川举行。

Kobe Bryant to promote Beijing during home games

Beijing enlists LA Lakers to promote city

In fact, Beijing could see its historical landmarks splashed at Staples Center in Los Angeles as early as next week.

“We have become a Lakers’ partner for the new (NBA) season,” Gu Xiaoyuan, deputy director of the Beijing municipal bureau of tourism, said on Friday.

Speaking at the 2010 Beijing Tourism Marketing conference, she said: “There will be many advertisements for Beijing in Lakers’ home court throughout the season.”

“As part of our contract, Kobe will attend at least one promotion event for the Beijing tourism bureau. And we will offer free entry to NBA fans for those events.”

When the Lakers take on Thunder on Dec 22 at the Staples Center, one of the spectators will win a free trip for two to Beijing.

The Forbidden City, once home to a long line of emperors, is Beijing's most enduring emblem

The second promotion will be held during Spring Festival in February, she said.

北京酷玩溜冰场推荐 A guide to the ice skating rinks in Beijing

室外溜冰场

• 什刹海冰场

什刹海也写作“十刹海”。 位于北京城西北隅，交通十分便利。四周原有十座佛寺，故有此称。元代名海子，为一宽而长的水面，明初缩小，后逐渐形成西海﹑后海﹑前海，三海水道相通。自 清代起就成为游乐消夏之所。三海碧波荡漾，岸边垂柳毵毵，远山秀色如黛，风光绮丽，为燕京胜景之一。今天，这里仍旧保存着十分难得的自然景观和人文胜迹交 相辉映的历史风貌。
夏日波平如镜，垂柳依依，荷花盛开，冬季则是天然溜冰场。每年什刹海冬季结冰后，什刹海前海则开办冰场，并有了较高的声誉，在推动我市群众 业余体育活动中起到了一定的积极作用,历来深受冬季运动爱好者的喜爱,使什刹海风景区逐年观光旅游人数的不断增加，景区影响日益扩大。滑冰场分为、冰车 区、滑冰区等,方便各类游人的各种需求，为什刹海风景区增添了独特的韵味。

• 中山公园后河冰场

中山公园后河滑冰场面积约为8400平方米。划分为冰车区、练习区、速滑区、冰球比赛区以及儿童练习场。同时为方便游客，冰场还设有磨冰刀、租冰鞋，冷、热饮等服务项目。
冰场开放的时间是：早场8：30至11：00，
晚场18：00至20：30，节假日加开中场，时间为13：30至16：00。

室内溜冰场

• 西单尚美溜冰场

尚美溜冰场总面积为2000平米，是目前北京冰质最好的室内营业性真冰溜冰场。采用德国最先进的制冰技术，以及意大利清冰设备，按照奥林匹克比赛场地硬度 标准，制造了近1000平米的极致冰面，在京城冰迷中一直具有良好的口碑，同时倚仗冰场建筑的先天优势，按照欧美冰场、俱乐部的标准，配置安装了芬兰进口 的训练用吊轨，能够帮助学员迅速掌握高难度动作，这一设施开创了国内冰场的先例。本俱乐部拥有多名资深专业的花样滑冰及冰球教练员。冰球教练所率领的尚美 冰球队也在国内外的比赛中取得了优秀的名次；同时多名花样教练培养出的学员在国内外各种比赛中取得了优异的成绩。 　　尚美俱乐部已与东南亚、欧美多家冰场建立了伙伴关系，并且定期组织学员参加国内外各类型比赛，使学员能够在比赛中开阔眼界、树立自信、提高技术水平。
地址：北京市西城区西单北大街180号西单文化广场最底层
价格：周一至周五16：00前35元 1个半小时；周一至周五16：00后，周末 40元 1个半小时
营业时间：  10:00－22:00

• Le Cool 溜冰场

Le Cool是位于国贸商城的地下溜冰场，它是一个具有独特风格的真冰溜冰场，也是京城第一家建在商场内的真冰冰场。自从2003年夏天开张以来，每天都有大 批的人来这里”过上一把瘾”。可别以为这些玩家仅仅是年轻人，中年人、公司高层主管、外国人都是这里的常客，到了周末，你甚至可以看到全家老少一起冰上飞 的壮观场面。 　　从商城西门直接下楼就到了。一进入冰场,你就会看到高大宽阔的玻璃天井。白天，阳光从上直泻而下，让人恍然置身于室外空间；晚上，迷人的灯 光使冰场又完全变成另一个世界。要是赶上蹦“冰迪”的时刻，各种灯光的特技效果加上动感十足的音乐，整个冰场都沸腾了，你一定也会不由自主地跟着蹦起来！
国贸溜冰场的外文名字叫“Le Cool”，是两个法语词，“冷”的意思，不管外面天气多热，这儿的冰面都会冻得结结实实，让人在上面滑个痛快，那感觉该有多“酷”！
Le Cool是北京唯一的一家环保冰场。它的制冷系统摒弃了破坏臭氧层的氟等物质。它那足有800平方米的宽阔冰面是由加拿大著名的CIMCO公司全套设备制造的，采用盐水作为介质，不会对环境造成任何影响，对人的身体也是有益无害，并且全年开放。
冰场里备有型号齐全的冰鞋，无论是刚刚三岁的小孩子还是巨人运动员都可以在这里找到适合自己的鞋码。要是你更喜欢独一无二的感觉，也可以自带冰鞋或是在冰场出售的琳琅满目的冰鞋中选购一双充满了个性的只属于你自己的溜冰鞋。
如果你从来没有玩过水冰，那么站在冰刀上时，就会觉得整个世界都在摇晃，所以冰场里随处可见扶着护栏、颤颤巍巍的初学者。而每一个从你 身边迅速滑过的人，都会给初学的你一个不小的刺激。没关系，Le Cool的冰场上总是会有几名专业的教练四处逡行，如果你半天也没挪动出50米，教练就会伸出救援之手了。而且这里也有很多溜冰爱好者有着丰富的经验和善 良的爱心，他们也会主动拉起你的手，教你如何正视前方、大胆向前。
看过电影《爱情故事》的人，相信都不会忘记中影片中那些浪漫的溜冰场面。是的，溜冰场的确是恋人们的一个好去处。在这里，”安全” 成了一个绝好的借口，你尽可以和心爱的人手拉着手、心连着心。在Le Cool，可以经常看到穿着情侣装的男女，幸福得仿佛没了周围人的所在，自顾自地伸展、滑行，让楼上围观的人羡慕不已。
溜冰场设在地下二层，和楼上共有一个天棚。在一楼逛商场的人们、上下班的公司职员们，每次路过这里，都禁不住要停下来看看。所以只 要有人滑冰，就会有人观看。从上面往下望去，偌大的冰场好象是一个灯火辉煌的舞台，滑冰的人在场上飞驰，就好象在舞台中表演一样。而楼上看演出的人，禁不 起如此奔放的诱惑，随时会奔下楼，冲进这个舞台。
冰场设有出售冰鞋的地方，想拥有自己的冰鞋，可就近购买。若滑累了，冰场旁边的小食店提供饮料和零食，你可以一边休息一边享用。
丰富多彩的活动也是国贸冰场的一大特色。每天的特别时间里，孩子们还能有机会与可爱的吉祥兔一起滑，并得到它赠送的小礼物，度过一个兴 奋、刺激的快乐时光！如果你对花样滑冰感兴趣，在冰场还可欣赏到精彩的小型花式滑冰表演。初学者往往不敢轻易上冰，不要担心，冰场教练将免费向初学者教授 基本的滑冰技巧。购票入场的客人如果入场券的尾数为8，就将获得冰场赠送的礼物。另外，购票入场的客人(月卡、赠票除外)均可参加累计积分活动，累计达一 定分数，还可赢取冰鞋等奖品。
所以，溜冰去！在音乐声中，眼前的人与景快速地飞驰而过，旋转、滑行、飞翔，如果你感觉心跳过速，那就对了，是的，在Le Cool，玩的就是心跳！
收费：每90分钟的价格为20元至40元
开放时间：周一至周四、周日 10:00-22:00
周五、周六、公共假期 10:00-24:00
暑假 09:00-22:00
寒假 10:00-22:00
收费方式:现金
地址:建国门外大街1号国贸商城地下二层

• 新世界冠军溜冰场

新世界冠军溜冰场，位于崇文门新世界商场二期B1层，地处京城繁华地带，交通便利。中空式的建筑设计，冰场总面积1700平方米，冰场的布局和配套设施科 学合理又富有浓郁的人情味儿，咖啡厅、观赏吧样样俱全。冰场内设有护栏，为初学者提供了安全保护。场外专为顾客和陪同的家人提供了休息的场所。水吧出售各 式各样的食品、饮料，竭力为顾客提供方便。透明开放式的健身练功房，使溜冰爱好者们在滑冰之余，还可以进行舞蹈、形体及力量练习，达到全面平衡的健身目 的。
营业时间：周一至周四 09:30-21:30 周五、周六 09:00-22:00 周日　 09:00-21:30 门票价格：周一至周五：早场(09:30-11:30) 25元/人/90分钟 中场(11:30-17:00) 35元/人/90分钟 晚场(17:00-终场) 38元/人/90分钟 周六、日及节假日全天 38元/人/90分钟 (以上票价包含冰鞋)

• 北京世纪星滑冰俱乐部

北京世纪星滑冰俱乐部创建于一九九九年六月,是我国第一个以花样滑冰为主项的体育俱乐部.俱乐部设在我国最大并且有国际标准场地和现代设备的首都体育馆综 合训练馆内.俱乐部创建人范军总经理和杨晖副总经理是我国八十年代至九十年代中期多次全国花样滑冰冠军获得者.俱乐部教务总监杨家声先生是国际滑冰联盟的 锦标赛级裁判长,中国滑冰协会裁判委员会主任,是我国花样滑冰教学训练大纲的制定者之一,负责全国花样滑冰教练员和裁判员的培训工作.俱乐部的教练员都是 国家队的优秀选手，在以往的国家和国际比赛中取得过优异成绩.
这里是国家队的训练场地。这里的教练是最专业的，学费较贵。
课程设置：一对一 300元/1.5小时 一对二 220元/1.5小时 一对三 150元/1.5小时。
上课时间：周一至五 18：00－19：30
周六日 12：45－14：15 14：30－16：00 16：15－17：45 18：00－19：30
除教课外现在还开设了练习场，50元/1.5小时租鞋费另收。

• 北京紫龙祥滑冰馆

位于和平里中街的紫龙祥滑冰馆冰面面积2100平方米，为周长310米，宽7.2米的环形滑冰跑道（其中直道达110米），能同时容纳500余人进行各种形式的速度滑冰。
这里还有一块京城唯一能玩冰上溜石（冰壶）的场地，冰上溜石运动的规则和技术易于掌握，对身体条件要求又不高，是一项体力与智慧相结合，趣味性很浓的健身休闲活动。
滑冰馆内设有近百个观众席，三五好友围坐桌前边畅饮，边小憩，边欣赏场内活泼奔放的滑冰场面，潇洒了一回，轻松了一回，又惬意，又快乐，这真是一个假日休闲的好去处。
电话：64291619　　参考价格：20元/小时
由于目前首体在整修，课程在首体北面天成市场内的国家速滑队训练场里上。
课程标准：设基础一至八级，然后就是国家级。一般一年内可考完基础级。
营业时间：暑假期间(7月1日起)09:00-22:00/。
平时 13:00-22:00 。
收费标准：
学生10-15元/小时，成人20-25元/小时 。
月卡：学生450元，成人600元，不计时 。
冰鞋租用：5元，押金10元，有花刀、速刀和球刀。
磨刀服务：10元/次 。
私人教练：100元/次，需预约 。
冰上溜石(冰壶)培训班：
培训时间：周一至周日 09:00—11:00，19:00—21:00 。
培训班分三种：500元为一期赠送一双鞋。
400元为一期包括鞋。
300元为一期自己带鞋 。
办理周票、月票和团体票(10人以上)均优惠。
停车位：20个(滑冰馆门口，东侧院内也可停车，有车童，有保安 。
滑冰培训班：1期15次课，2小时/课，300元/期 。
客容量：500人。

• 北京浩沙冰场

浩沙健身中心在朝阳区高碑店新开了一家冰上运动中心，冰鞋都是新的，还有场内教练。
人均消费25元/场，每场一个半小时。内有免费停车场。还有机会领到免费体验卡。
具体地点：朝阳区高碑店兴隆公园内